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Peace and Defense – Firearms Edition
America’s Tragedy—The Pervasive Spread of Firearms
According to survey data from the Swiss-based Small Arms Survey, which covers more than 230 countries and regions worldwide, as of the end of 2017 there were approximately 1.013 billion firearms in 230 countries and regions, with the United States accounting for 393 million—nearly 40% of the global total.
| Serial Number | Country | Held by the public | Held by the military (law enforcement) | Annual output | Remarks |
| 0 | Global | 860 million units | 133 million units (Russia, U.S., China) | 15 million units | |
| 1 | United States | 390 million units | 22 million (U.S.-made) | 6 million units | |
| 2 | India | 71.1 million units | 12 million units (International brand) | Very few | |
| 3 | Pakistan | 43.5 million units | 10 million units (Russia, US, China) | Very few | |
| 4 | Russia | 10 million units | 30.3 million rounds (Russian-made) | 3 million units | |
| 5 | China | Very few | 27.5 million units (made in China) | 2 million units |
Data source:
The United States ranks among the world’s top countries in terms of the number of firearms held by civilians, the number held by the military and law enforcement, and annual firearm production, making it one of the root causes of both domestic and global violence.
America’s Tragedy—Everyone Owes a Gun
Of the roughly 225 countries and regions worldwide, 34 prohibit firearms; China also adopts a zero-tolerance policy toward civilian gun ownership.
As a materials enthusiast, it’s essential to briefly discuss the materials, components, and manufacturing processes used in American firearms.
- Basic Materials for Firearms
| Serial Number | Ingredient List | S45C | SLD mold steel | 4150CMV | 416 | 416R | 17-4PH |
| 1 | Carbon (Carbon, C) | 0.42–0.50 | 1.50 | 0.48–0.53 | ≤0.15 | 0.12 | ≤0.07 |
| 2 | Silicon (Si) | 0.17–0.37 | 0.45 | 0.15–0.35 | ≤1.00 | 0.40 | ≤1.00 |
| 3 | Manganese (Mn) | 0.50–0.80 | 0.25 | 0.75–1.00 | ≤1.25 | 0.40 | ≤1.00 |
| 4 | Sulfur (S) | ≤0.035 | 12 | ≤0.040 | ≤0.15 | ≤0.13 | ≤0.03 |
| 5 | Phosphorus (Phosphorus, P) | ≤0.035 | ≤0.035 | ≤0.06 | ≤0.06? | ≤0.04 | |
| 6 | Chromium (Cr) | ≤0.25 | ≤0.025 | 0.80–1.10 | 12.0–14.0 | 12.50 | 15.0–17.5 |
| 7 | Nickel (Ni) | ≤0.25 | ≤0.010 | ≤0.025 | ≤0.60 | ≤0.60? | 3.0–5.0 |
| 8 | Molybdenum (Mo) | - | 0.35 | 0.15–0.25 | ≤0.60 | 0.40 | |
| 9 | Vanadium (V) | 0.02 | |||||
| 10 | Copper (Cu) | ≤0.35 | 3.0–5.0 | ||||
| 11 | Cobalt (Co) | ||||||
| 12 | Allowance (Fe) | 97.76–98.91 | Nb+Ta 0.15-0.45 |
- Firearm components
- 1. Barrel: Responsible for guiding the bullet as it is fired.
2.2 Frame: The main body of the pistol, to which most other components are mounted.
2.3 Magazine: A container for storing ammunition, located beneath or inside the firearm.
2.4 Slide: Encases the exterior of the barrel and, driven rearward by the recoil spring, completes case extraction and cartridge feeding into the chamber.
2.5 Hammer: When fired, the hammer strikes the firing pin, igniting the primer.
2.6 Firing pin: A component in a firearm’s firing mechanism that strikes the primer to initiate the discharge of a cartridge.
2.7 Trigger: Pulling the trigger is the action of firing a bullet.
3. Manufacturing Processes for Firearms Components
3.1 Non-metallic Parts – Mold-Based 
3.2 Metal Components – Tool-Based (Cutting Tools) 
3.3 The Soul of the Gun (the Barrel) – Based on a Radial Forging Machine
A radial forging machine features several hammer heads symmetrically arranged around the workpiece, which perform high-frequency, synchronized radial forging. As the workpiece rotates, it is simultaneously fed axially, thereby reducing its radial cross-sectional dimensions and elongating it in the axial direction. Precision forging machines can not only form rifling but also simultaneously forge both the rifled barrel and the chamber in a single operation.
Those who believe that engineering can change the world—let us join forces to contribute to peace and defense.
The former site of Factory 940 in Baidian Town, Guangde County: a memorial to the Third-Phase Military Industrial Program
Brief note: Factory No. 940 was merged into the Nanjing Mint in the 1980s and was a neighbor of Arrowstone Nanjing Co., Ltd.
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